Construction sector mental health concerns raised in new report 20 August 2020 A new report has revealed that almost a quarter of construction firms have had an employee absent due to mental health issues. Work-related stresses, unrealistic targets and long hours are being cited by employers as the...
The dean of Harvard’s school of public health has called on firms to put public health professionals on their boards and in their top executive ranks to manage a pandemic threat that could hang over businesses for years. “I think what COVID does is lay bare just how essential it...
Safety advice from Teagasc ahead of upcoming busy time for many farmers and contractors who will be emptying slurry tanks before the 15 October deadline. 16 August 2020 Over the next few weeks many farmers and contractors will be busy emptying slurry tanks before the October...
HSA launches two Return to Work Safely courses 29 July 2020 The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has launched two online Return to Work courses. These new courses, the Return to Work Safely Induction and Lead Worker Representative, have been developed to help give employers and...
Lower income essential workers at higher risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19 28 July 2020 A new report published on 28 July 2020 by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has found that low income frontline workers, considered to be essential to the economic and social health...
Department of Health issues new posters relating to face masks 23 July 2020 Three updated posters relating to face masks now available from the Department of Health website: One specifying mandatory on public transport One specifying that they are strongly advised in shops, and One catch-all...
Mental Health First Aid Ireland survey shines a light on the impact of working from home on Irish workers 22 July 2020 A recent survey of just under 1,200 people who were working from home during May and June 2020 has raised concerns over the negative impact...
It's Time To Take Safety Seriously - Farm Safety Week 2020 Monday, 20 July 2020 Today (Monday, 20 July 2020) is the start of Farm Safety Week 2020. This annual campaign, now in its eight year, aims to raise farm safety awareness and to bring about a change...
COVID-19 safety measures taken by NISO As a limited number of health and safety training courses have resumed in the NISO Training Centre, NISO has put the following safety measures into place to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to keep our learners and staff...
Health and Safety Authority (HSA) launches inspection campaign to highlight need for increased safety awareness on farms 10 July 2020 The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) is undertaking a two-week inspection campaign to highlight on-going safety issues on farms. Starting on Monday 13 July, inspectors will visit farms...
National guidance for employers and employees seeking to engage with remote working solutions. 9 July 2020 This webpage from the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation details the guidance already available for employers and employees on working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic across a number of topics...
Company fined €180k following H&S Breaches 9 July 2020 Today (Thursday, 9 July 2020) a farm building company has been fined €180,000 for breaches in health and safety legislation following an incident where an employee fell 6m from a farm building during a re-roofing project. A fine of...
Public Consultation on Guidance for Remote Working 9 July 2020 The Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation has launched a public consultation on remote working guidelines. It is intended that the guidelines will address issues arising from remote working, including health and safety, employment rights and data protection. The...
HSA return to work COVID-19 templates, checklists and posters These checklists and templates have been prepared by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) to help employers, business owners and managers to get their business up and running again and to inform workers about what they need...
Safety Alert: Use of safety masks designated KN95. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in the UK has issued the following safety alert regarding the use of face masks designated KN95. A substantial number of face masks, claiming to be of KN95 standards, provide an inadequate level...
As Ireland has entered Phase 2 of the Government's Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, please click here to access the updated public health advice posters to reflect current advice. In addition to a new general public health advice poster [Click here to download], the Government has also created “Stay safe...
Preparations for the reactivation of Safe Pass, CSCS and QSCS Courses 4 June 2020 SOLAS has now issued guidelines to all Approved Training Organisations (ATOs) and Safe Pass instructors for the reactivation of Safe Pass courses. SOLAS has also issued new Standard Operating Procedures Pandemic Guidelines and...
Study finds workplace bullying costing economy €239m per year 25 May 2020 Source: irishtimes.com A total of 1.7 million days are lost due to workplace bullying at a cost to the economy of €239 million per year, according to new research. The findings are contained in a new NUI Galway study...
Report calls for action on goods vehicle safety 26 May 2020 Source: European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) Press Release A recent report by the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) on the safety of goods transport by road has found that a quarter (25%) of road deaths in the...
Yards and fields must be "no go areas" for children during farm work 22 May 2020 Source: agriland.ie The importance of child safety on farms has been heavily stressed by the Farm Safety Partnership, which said that yards and fields must be “no go areas” for children while...
Healthcare workers account for one third of COVID-19 cases in Ireland 25 May 2020 Source: Irish Independent Healthcare workers make up almost a third of total COVID-19 infections in Ireland - one of the highest proportions in Europe - with the HSE admitting there had been "difficulties" with...
Getting Back to Work - A Checklist for Employers 14 May 2020 With Phase 1 of the Government's roadmap for easing COVID-19 restrictions and reopening the economy commencing Monday, 18 May, a safe return to the workplace is now a top priority. Getting Back to Work - A Checklist...
HSE advice on safely performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in the community during the COVID-19 pandemic 13 May 2020 The Health Service Executive (HSE) has issued the following advice on how to safely administer CPR during the current pandemic. In summary, the HSE: recommends early use of a defibrillator advises against...
Calls for increased vigilance on roads this silage season 11 May 2020 The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) and the Road Safety Authority (RSA) have issued a joint appeal to stress road safety this silage season, particularly with more pedestrians and cyclists on the roads due to COVID-19. “Normally...
National Return to Work Safely Protocol published 9 May 2020 A national Return to Work Safely protocol has been published by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation and the Department of Health. This protocol is intended to be used by employers and workers to ensure safety...
Results from ESENER 2019 reveal that the biggest concerns for European workplaces are musculoskeletal disorders and psychosocial risks. 8 May 2020 The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) has released the results of its 2019 European Survey of Enterprises on New and Emerging Risks...
NISO AGM deferred until 30 July 2020 NISO has taken the decision to further defer this year's AGM until 30 July 2020 in accordance with the latest government guidelines issued on 1 May 2020 [subject to change in line with Government guidelines]. Under the current restrictions travel...
Calls made for HSA COVID-19 enforcement powers A number of TDs have called for the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) to be granted extended powers to ensure enforcement of special COVID-19 measures, such as social distancing, in the workplace. Currently, no state agency has the statutory...
Workers' Memorial DayTuesday, 28 April 2020 April 28 is the date every year when we remember those who have been killed or injured in work-related accidents. In 2019, 46 people in Ireland died as a result of work-related accidents and many more suffered serious injury. This year,...
National Workplace Wellbeing Day 1 May 2020 Ibec is calling all employers to sign up for its 6th National Workplace Wellbeing Day 2020. Never has it been so important for employers to send a public message to all their staff that their wellbeing is paramount. Sign up...
E-Survey on Living, Working & COVID-19 The COVID-19 pandemic is having wide-ranging effects on people’s quality of life and work. The European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, Eurofound has launched a 10-minute e-survey to capture the most immediate changes and their impact....
HIQA issues new guidelines for nursing homes The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has issued guidelines to ensure nursing homes comply with best practice in protecting residents and staff from COVID-19 and dealing with potential cases if they occur. The new publication entitled Regulatory assessment framework of the preparedness...
Control of Legionella Bacteria During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic The HSA has issued this advice for employers or those in control of places of work to highlight the requirement to continue managing Legionella control to avoid the potential for Legionnaires’ disease. Background Because of the current situation with...